Books

THE LAST AMERICAN HERO

On February 20, 1962. John Glenn became a national star. That morning at Cape Canaveral, the small-town boy from Ohio took his place atop a rocket and soared into space. He became celebrated in all corners of the world as not just the first American to orbit the Earth, but as the first space traveler to take the human race with him. Refusing to let the dramatic day define his life, he went on to become a four-term U.S. senator--and returned to space at the age of 77. The Last American Hero is a stunning examination of the layers that formed the man, a hero of the Cold War, a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War, a veteran senator, a devoted husband and father, and much more. At a time when an increasingly cynical world needs heroes, John Glenn's aura burns brightly in American memory.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY

One of the most stunning events of the 20th Century, John F. Kennedy's assassination remains a source of fascination for Americans of many generations. Those who were over the age of 5 when Kennedy was slain likely will always remember the dark days surrounding his death and his funeral. This book provides a concise look at how the murder touched the lives of people across the United States and how it continues to serve as an apparently unsolvable mystery.

AWAITING ARMAGEDDON

Americans of the early 1960s lived with the possibility of a gigantic nuclear war that could turn much of the world into dust. Widespread deaths in the United States and the Soviet Union were an anticipated outcome. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the threat of nuclear war into every American home. This book examines American expectations of nuclear war as well as their reactions to the crisis.

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Histories of the Cuban Missile Crisis are typically long, complicated works that rely heavily on White House tapes and recently opened Soviet archives. This book provides a simpler, more concise history of the crisis and its outcome.

OLD CITY PHILADELPHIA

In a very real sense, the United States began in Old City Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress met to approve the Declaration of Independence and where the U.S. constitution first came to life. This history of Old City follows the neighborhood's transformation from a quiet collection of colonial homes to a national center to a site of urban renewal and finally, to an urban neighborhood buzzing with new life. 

SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

Social History of the United States is a cornerstone reference that tells the story of 20th-century America, examining the interplay of policies, events, and everyday life in each decade of the 1900s with unmatched authority, clarity, and insight.

Spanning ten volumes and featuring the work of some of the foremost social historians working today, Social History of the United States bridges the gap between 20th-century history as it played out on the grand stage and history as it affected--and was affected by--citizens at the grassroots level. Covering each decade in a separate volume, this exhaustive work draws on the most compelling scholarship to identify important themes and institutions, explore daily life and working conditions across the economic spectrum, and examine all aspects of the American experience from a citizen's-eye view. Casting the spotlight on those whom history often leaves in the dark, Social History of the United States is an essential addition to any library collection.